BOS leads CBJ 3-2 … Gm 6, Tonight, 7 ET SJ leads COL 3-2 … Gm 6: Tonight, 10 ET
CAR def. NYI 4-0 DAL & STL tied 3-3 … Gm 7: Tomorrow, 8 ET A 2019 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS UPDATE May 6, 2019
On Tap this Week: At Least One Game 7… With the Possibility of Two More
Yesterday in Dallas, the Blues forced the fourth Game 7 of this postseason by beating the Stars 4-1. Tonight it’s a pair of Game 6s, where the Blue Jackets and Avs can also force Game 7.
There were three Game 7s in the First Round and there is potential for three Game 7s in the Second Round (up to 6 total in these playoffs). There were just three Game 7s all of last postseason. • Last postseason with 5+ Game 7s: 2016 (5) Last postseason with 6+ Game 7s: 2014 (7)
Today’s Action – 2 Games – Bruins & Sharks try to Advance to Conference Final on the Road
Bruins vs Blue Jackets – Game 6 (7 PM ET, NBCSN)
David Pastrnak is back… After scoring just 1 goal in the span of six games (from Gm 5 of First Round to Gm 3 of Second Round), Pastrnak now has three goals and four points in the last two games (both BOS wins). He scored twice in a wild third period of Game 5, including the game winner with just 1:28 left in regulation. After scoring a combined 6 goals in the first 3 games of the series, the Bruins have scored four goals in each of the last two.
Bruce Cassidy on breaking through Sergei Bobrovsky: “We’re scoring goals, I think, because we’re taking more shots in certain areas at Bobrovsky where we feel there can be some second chances, or there’s some holes.”
• This is the first time the Blue Jackets are facing elimination this postseason. They are 1-4 all time when facing elimination (the only win came in 2017 Gm 4 vs PIT… lost Gm 5).
After Saturday’s Game 5 loss, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella guaranteed a Game 7: “Things happen for a reason, I truly believe that. We’ll be back here for Game 7… Because we will.”
Sharks vs Avalanche – Game 6 (10 PM ET, NBCSN) Tomas Hertl’s two goals in Game 5 against Colorado have put the Sharks one win away from reaching the Western Conference Final for the second time in the last four seasons. San Jose shut down Nathan MacKinnon, holding him to just 1 shot on goal and keeping him off the scoresheet for the first time since Game 1 of the First Round vs CGY. MacKinnon’s point streak ended at 8 games.
The Sharks & Avalanche have traded wins and losses this series.
SJ forward Evander Kane on the chance to clinch: “You have to be cognizant that those are the hardest games to win because the other team knows they are facing elimination… I know we’ve won in their building, I think we are a confident group heading in there… As much as I enjoyed my first Game 7, I’d like to forego it maybe this series.”
• San Jose is 2-1 in Colorado this season, but the loss was a 3-0 shutout in Game 4. • SJ is 5-1 in its last 6 potential series-clinching games (dating back to 2016, when they reached Cup Final). • This is the first time COL has faced elimination this postseason.
Joe Pavelski speaks to the media – Pavelski described his head injury, “I remember sitting down in which he suffered in Game 7 vs Vegas, as a “pressure cut” that required 8 the [coaches] office just kinda staples to close. He returned to the ice on Wednesday and traveled with the looking at the TV, and I think team to Denver, though his status for Game 6 is still unknown. the score was 4-3. It was just kinda like, how did we score On the play in which he suffered the injury, Pavelski said: “I’ve got no all these goals? How did we issues with the play. Was it a five-minute major? No. I don’t think it get the power play?” was… Am I glad they called it that way? Heck, yeah.”
Postseason By The Numbers 66 games played
• 35 home wins; 31 road wins
• 31 one-goal games
• 6 shutouts (Petr Mrazek x2, Mike Smith, Marc-Andre Fleury, Braden Holtby, Philipp Grubauer) • 13 OT games (10 OT games in the First Round; 3 so far in the Second Round)
o There has not been an OT game since Saturday, April 27 (8 straight days without) o There were only 10 OT games total last postseason
o 3 games have gone to 2OT
Postseason Leaders Through 26 days
• Goals: 9 – Logan Couture (SJ) • Assists: 11 – Jaccob Slavin (CAR), Erik Karlsson (SJ) • Points: 13 – Nathan MacKinnon (COL), Mikko Rantanen (COL), Brad Marchand (BOS), Couture • GAA: 1.56 – Curtis McElhinney (CAR) in 3 GP • Save %: .947 – McElhinney
3 Stars of Sunday
1) Sammy Blais – Scored in his postseason debut, and in first game since March 12. The 22-year-old became the 5th player this postseason to score a goal in his playoff debut (and first to do it in the 2nd Rd).
2) Jaden Schwartz – Scored a decisive 3-1 goal when Ben Bishop was on the ice in pain after being hit in the collar bone/shoulder area by a Colton Parayko slapshot. Schwartz also had an assist and now leads the team with 11 points this postseason. Only Logan Couture has more goals (9) this postseason.
3) Alex Pietrangelo – Scored 63 seconds into the game, setting the tone for a Blues team that was facing elimination. STL had the first 8 shots of the game.
Blues 4 Stars 1 (Game 7: Tuesday at 8 pm – NBCSN) Series tied 3-3
The Blues were hanging onto a 1-goal lead in the third period when Colton Parayko’s slapshot knocked Stars goalie Ben Bishop to the ice in pain (he was hit by the puck in the shoulder/collar bone area). Jaden Schwartz quickly took advantage, scoring into a mostly empty net and giving St. Louis a decisive 3-1 lead.
Parayko on his shot: “Obviously you’re right there in the slot, you’re going to try to shoot to score. I was just trying to get it around their first guy and find a corner. I was shooting to score. I’m never out there to hurt nobody. Hopefully, he’s okay.”
Bishop stayed in the game momentarily, but was replaced by Anton Khudobin when he allowed STL’s fourth goal 33 seconds later. He underwent x-rays, though Stars coach Jim Montgomery said they were precautionary, and that Bishop should be fine for Game 7.
Montgomery on Game 7: “I feel great about a Game 7. I mean, when I was a little kid, every time I played street hockey or played in my basement with my cousin it was Game 7 every time. So I’m excited.”
Blues interim head coach Craig Berube actually made somewhat of a guarantee prior to Game 6. When he spoke to the media about 90 minutes before the game, he said: “We all believe we’re going back for Game 7. Why wouldn’t we? We’re a confident group that’s played hockey for a long time.”